Tuloy-tuloy ang serbisyo, anuman ang panahon.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), through its Emergency 911 National Call Center (NCC), demonstrated its unwavering commitment to public service during the recent weather disturbance, responding to 1,316 emergency calls as the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) intensified by Tropical Cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong affected large parts of Luzon.

From July 21 to 25, the NCC received and coordinated 183 calls requesting police assistance, 351 search and rescue operations, 448 medical emergencies, 334 incidents involving fire suppression, Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC), and other urgent concerns.

These verified calls were swiftly coordinated with Local Government Units (LGUs) and rescue volunteers to ensure immediate response and on-ground deployment.

Among the notable rescue efforts were the evacuation of five individuals, including two minors, from chest-deep floodwaters in Barangay Herrero, Dagupan City; assistance to trapped residents in Barangay Poblacion, Camiling, Tarlac; the rescue of stranded families in Barangay San Jose, Navotas City; and the safe evacuation of elementary students from Villamor Elementary School, Pasay City, led by Barangay 183 responders and the Philippine Air Force.

The Emergency 911 hotline continues to earn praise from netizens for the swift and coordinated response of local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (DRRMOs), the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and dedicated barangay and community volunteers.

However, despite ongoing advisories, the NCC recorded 16,951 prank and fraudulent calls, which remain a serious challenge to emergency operations.

In response to growing demands and the need for faster coordination, the DILG is set to launch a modernized, fully integrated nationwide 911 system with enhanced features aimed at improving emergency response times, interoperability, and public safety.

Original Article At: https://dilg.gov.ph/news/DILG-1316-Emergency-Calls-Handled-by-911-Amid-Week-Long-Weather-Disturbance/NC-2025-1124